Lindsey Hansen Guide

Slowly but surely, the autumn leaves are beginning to appear in Paris. And that means that it’s the perfect time to get outside for an afternoon stroll and take in all the city’s fall colors. One of my favorite places to appreciate the vibrant yellows and fiery reds of the season is the Luxembourg Gardens, because it’s a place where it’s possible to get a little history lesson to go with your nature time.

that there’s a group of sculptures of “Queens of France and Illustrious Women” in the gardens? Numbering twenty in total, the figures represented include queens like Marie de Medici (of course) and Blanche of Castille as well as celebrated women like Joan of Arc and Saint Genevieve (the patron saint of Paris). All of these sculptures were added to the decoration of the gardens in the mid-19th century during the July Revolution (1830-1848). King Louis-Philippe is said to have personally selected each of the women included in the sculptural group. (Swipe left for a diagram that includes the identifications of all the women as well as their placement around the garden’s grand bassin and central parterres.)

We could spend (literal) weeks exploring the storied pasts of each of the illustrious figures included in this sculptural group. But for today, we’ll focus on the woman represented here: Marguerite d’Angoulême (also known as Marguerite de Navarre or Marguerite de Valois-Angoulême; 1492-1549). She was the sister of François Ier, the first great French Renaissance king. She was also the grandmother of Henri III of Navarre, who became Henri IV of France and Navarre, the first of the Bourbon line of kings. Her relation to the future king might help to explain her placement in the sculptural group just next to Marie de Medici, who was the wife of Henri IV.

Next time you find yourself in the Jardin du Luxembourg (whether that be on a lovely fall day, or any other day of the year), take some time to stroll past all of these delightful sculptures of France’s illustrious ladies. It’s a perfect way to prendre l’air, and to learn a little something new about French history while you’re at it.